Mini-Lesson:​ Listening With Empathy and Understanding (30 minutes)

Section Details Time/Materials

Hook Put the quote on the board by ​Stephen R. Covey “Most people do not 3 min
listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to
reply.” Document
camera to
Ask students to think about what this quote means for a minute, then project quote.
discuss.

Objective SWBAT practice truly understanding what their partner is saying by 2 min
listening for two minutes with empathy.
Whiteboard
marker
(Review empathy)

Standard(s) SL 4.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions n/a

(one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on
grade 4 topics or texts, building on other’s ideas and expressing their
own clearly.

Introduction Have students answer the following questions silently in complete 5 min
to New sentences.
Material Paper and pencil
1. When was a time when someone really listened to you? for each student
2. When was a time you really listened to someone?
3. Describe a time when you wish someone had listened to you.
4. Describe a time when you should have listened more closely
to what someone was saying and feeling.

I Do Explain to students that we are going to practice listening today, truly 5 min
listening. Explain that we spend so much of our time stuck in our own
head that we do not always hear what other people are saying.
Instead we hear what we want to hear or are thinking about our own
day while they are talking.

Remind them that this can be used in school to truly understand

directions and text, but it can also be used in life to listen to the
people around us.

Inform students we will be working in pairs today to practice speaking

for two minutes and listening for two minutes as well.

Students have two minutes to think of which number from the do

now they will share with their partner.
We Do Students work in pairs. 8 Min

Partner 1 will share their story about listening for 2 minutes. Partner Students’ do now
2 will listen. Then they have 2 minutes to have a discussion about the
story.

Partner 2 will share their story about listening for 2 minutes. Partner
1 will listen, they then have 2 minutes to have a discussion about the
story.

Teacher circulates, listens, helps students get back on track if need

be, but does not interfere with the speaking and listening.

You Do Students will reflect on the experience from both the speaking and 6 min
listening portion of the lesson.
Reflection sheet
for all students

Closing Bring students back together to go over the objective once more. Call 1 min
on students to summarize what we have learned, and how we will
use it in the future.